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Aussie Taylor Gill heads for Spain after tough Estonia test

By Timothy Neal

Date posted: 18 October 2023

Aussies Taylor Gill and co-driver Dan Brkic will take on the FIA Rally Star field in Spain this weekend to compete at the Rally RAAC after a strong performance in Estonia under difficult conditions.

The conditions on the Estonian island at the Saaremaa Rally were difficult to negotiate on wer and deeply rutted roads , but Gill managed to top his second FIA Rally Star test event of the year after Romet Jurgenson experienced late tyre issues.

It’s the second last test event of the season for the global FIA Rally Star field, with four of the six drivers set to receive the huge prize of a fully funded 2024 season in the Junior WRC.

Gill is competing for one of four fully funded spots in the 2024 Junior WRC field.

After Estonia Gill said he’d never experienced conditions like he was confronted with on the island of Saaremaa.

“The rally was really, really tricky but it was good to gain the experience and get to the finish of every single stage,” Gill said. 

“It was unlike any event I’d ever done before so it’s really crucial what we gained this weekend. I’d never driven in deep ruts like we had before, the bottom of the car was dragging on the ground for 100 metres at a time. 

“That was certainly the biggest learning curve from the weekend. I hope to be stronger at the next rally in Spain where the gravel will hopefully have similarities to what I am used to in Australia.”

It is a quick turn around to Spain for the two Aussies, and co-driver Brkic is hoping he can have a much cleaner run in Catalunya than they experienced in Slovenia and Estonia.

“We’ve set some really good times all throughout the year, but haven’t had luck on our side,” he explained.

The Ford FiestA Rally3 field (run by M-Sport Poland) in the service park at the Saaremaa Rally

“Taylor’s driving has been superb, especially having to overcome the difficult terrain and road position we encountered in Estonia.

“We’re really happy with our progress, and in Spain, where conditions will be more suited to what we have experienced back home, we can have a big push.”

The Spanish stages around Catalunya cover 126 competitive kilometres across two days of competition. Gill and Brkic will start car 14 on the road and have their fellow FIA Rally Star teams and two other Rally3 cars as rivals in the event.

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